Jay Cutler stepped to the podium in the post-game press conference and didn’t hesitate in accepting the blame.

“I apologized to the defense,” he said. “The whole offense did. They [defense] kept us in the game.”

Apologies were in order after Cutler’s worst game as a pro. He was intercepted five times, including twice in the red zone, in a 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Thursday night at Candlestick Park.

The loss was the Bears’ third in a night game this season, and Cutler again wilted in the NFL’s spotlight game. He has 11 interceptions and three touchdowns in night-game losses to Green Bay, Atlanta and now a 49ers team that had lost four consecutive games and gave up 34 points to Tennessee last week. Twelve of Cutler's 17 interceptions this season have come on the road.

The loss left the Bears (4-5) winless in their past seven trips to Candlestick Park. Their last win there was in 1985, the Super Bowl season.

For those Bears fans brave enough to watch it again, here are the key plays from the game, compliments of the NFL Network. The report card follows:

OFFENSE

There’s nothing more to say about Cutler’s performance. He stunk. But so did the offensive line. Again. And outside of Greg Olsen’s strong play in the first half, the receivers and tight ends struggled. Devin Hester had two costly penalties and slipped on a route that led to Tarell Brown’s interception and 51-yard return that set up Frank Gore’s 14-yard touchdown run late in the first half. That was the difference in the game. This is further evidence that GM Jerry Angelo needs to land a top free-agent wide receiver (Brandon Marshall would be nice) and retool the offensive line in the offseason. Grade: F

Jay Cutler was down in the dumps after tossing one of his five interceptions Thursday night in San Francisco.

DEFENSE

Let’s put this in perspective: The 49ers are no offensive juggernaut, but the Bears’ defense played its best game of the year outside of the Pittsburgh win in Week 2. Adewale Ogunleye and Tommie Harris were both disruptive on the defensive line, which had plenty of motivation after 49ers tight end Vernon Davis talked trash about the Bears’ linemen all week. Zack Bowman came up with an interception, and he and Peanut Tillman did a nice job on rookie Michael Crabtree. Josh Bullocks started in place of the injured Al Afalava (shoulder) and didn’t get embarrassed. Lance Briggs had a game-high 12 tackles. Nick Roach, who was shaken up early when Davis ran over him, finished with four  tackles and batted down an Alex Smith pass. The 49ers had only 108 yards of total offense midway through the third quarter, and their only touchdown  was set up by a Cutler interception. Yes, Frank Gore ran for 104 yards and a touchdown, and the defense did have too many offsides penalties. But you can’t blame the defense for this loss. It’s all on the Bears’ offense.  Grade: B-plus

SPECIAL TEAMS

With the offense sputtering and the defense playing well, the Bears needed a big play from its special teams to break the game open. It never came. Brad Maynard did a great job with keeping San Francisco pinned deep in its own territory and Robbie Gould was his usual, reliable self. But where was the return game? Hester, Johnny Knox and Danieal Manning produced nothing. Grade: C-plus

COACHING

The Bears are 20-21 under Coach Lovie Smith since the Super Bowl loss to Indianapolis. Smith had the defense ready to play against the 49ers, though, and gets a passing grade. Still, five turnovers and 10 penalties aren't going to win many games. As for Ron Turner? Too many mistakes, and a Mike Singletary-coached team will make you pay. Somewhere, Mike Ditka is smiling. Grade for Smith: B; grade for Turner: F

-- MIKE REILLEY
Follow him on Twitter @bearsblogblitz